Mark Ruffalo, known for his portrayal of the Hulk and Bruce Banner, appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last Thursday and was questioned about his absence from the cast list of Marvel’s upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Despite having a significant presence in previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films, Ruffalo was noticeably missing from the announced lineup for the new movie.
The conversation highlighted speculation around why Ruffalo’s character was left out of the Avengers: Doomsday trailer and cast announcements, which stirred curiosity given his iconic role in the franchise.
Ruffalo’s Candid Response on Spoilers and Film Secrecy
When Jimmy Fallon asked,
“Can you say why you weren’t in the Avengers trailer? Every time you’re on the show, you give a spoiler and you get in trouble,”
Ruffalo responded honestly:
“They decided that it was better to get rid of me than for me to tell the end of the next movie.”
Fallon acknowledged this reasoning, agreeing, “All right, that makes sense.”
Ruffalo has a well-documented tendency to reveal spoilers about Marvel films, sometimes unintentionally. For example, in October 2017, he accidentally live-streamed parts of Thor: Ragnarok on Instagram. In May 2018, he leaked key details regarding the ending of Avengers: Infinity War months before its official release.
During an interview at the D23 convention, Ruffalo told Good Morning America,
“Wait ’til you see this next one. Ha… everybody dies.”
He then corrected himself, stating that half of them perish, an accurate spoiler for Infinity War. His co-star Don Cheadle quickly interrupted with “Dude! Dude,” prompting Ruffalo to ask if they could “rewind that part.”
Current Cast Announcements and Ruffalo’s Upcoming Role
The official Avengers: Doomsday cast list, revealed in March, features numerous Marvel veterans, including Chris Hemsworth, Simu Liu, Robert Downey Jr., Letitia Wright, Anthony Mackie, Ian McKellen, Vanessa Kirby, and Florence Pugh among many others. However, Ruffalo’s name was not included, raising questions about his involvement in the highly anticipated film.
Despite this, Ruffalo is confirmed to return as Bruce Banner in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which stars Tom Holland and is scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. The absence of Ruffalo from Avengers: Doomsday could indicate a shift in Marvel’s direction or a precaution to prevent plot leaks.
Implications of Ruffalo’s Exclusion and Next Steps for Fans
Mark Ruffalo’s omission from the Avengers: Doomsday cast may reflect Marvel Studios’ efforts to safeguard plot details due to his history of revealing spoilers. While this might disappoint fans eager to see the Hulk back among the superhero ensemble, Ruffalo’s continuation in the Spider-Man series offers reassurance about his ongoing role within the MCU.
Marvel Studios has not yet commented officially on his absence, leaving speculation open about the future appearances of Ruffalo’s Hulk in the franchise. As Marvel prepares for Avengers: Doomsday’s release, anticipation remains high for how the storyline and cast will evolve moving forward.
